Algonquin students make a difference through applied research programs

The reforestation Rover was created by students in the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technician program

Haidar Al-Aubiydy’s father, who has Parkinson’s disease, was by himself at home when he fell and almost got hurt. Luckily, he had a phone close by and was able to call his son. That was the second time he fell. On that day, Al-Aubiydy knew he had to do something, not only to help his father, but also others who might be going through the same challenges.

“There is a lot of people in the same situation and we thought: what about developing something that can help people like this?” says Al-Aubiydy.

That was how the Tink Rover was created, a personal assistant to monitor the elderly and people living with disabilities. The prototype is able to recognize faces and can call 911 in case a person falls. The robot was part of a project in the Computer Engineering Technology program at Algonquin College.

Al-Aubiydy says that what he likes the most about his program is the hands-on experience. “I learn best by doing, not by just reading.”

Jesse White and his teammates were thinking about sustainability when they came up with the Reforestation Rover. The autonomous robot was created to put seeds at pre-set depths and areas, contributing to the reforestation process.

“Typically, the seeds are strewn on the top of the soil and they can be taken by animals, squirrels and birds and the likes, so ours ensures that it gets to the proper depth,” says White.

The robot was part of the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technician program, and White and his teammates hope to continue developing the prototype.

Algonquin College has been recognized as a national leader in applied research. At Algonquin, students get to be innovative and use what they have learned in the classroom to create a product or a service that will make a difference in the community. Check out some of the other projects our students have created.